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Divorce Attorney
updated: Oct 12, 2012, 12:05 PM

Can anyone recommend the best divorce attorney in town? Someone that's easy to work with and understands a man's point of view. Thanks

Places People Are Talking About:

Attorney Diana Jackson	Duey, Cheetum & Howe	Joanne Habibi
Paul Roberts

What People Are Saying:

COMMENT 330698	2012-10-12 12:20 PM
If you can stand talking to the prospective extranged, I would suggest a mediator. Much less expensive. CA law splits things 50:50 in any case.
COMMENT 330703	2012-10-12 12:40 PM
Vanessa Kirker
COMMENT 330708P	2012-10-12 12:51 PM
Mediation is best and cheapest and will also be the first step required once you meet with a judge....now here's the dirty side - meet with various selected "high power" attorney firms. Regardless if you work with that attorney or not, once you have met and discussed your case, you will preclude that particular "high power" attorney from working with your soon to be ex. If you can stomach the cash hemorrhage (synonymous with divorce) The local firm I suggest is Fell, Marking, Abkin on Carrillo St. 963-0755 I would rather be with them, than against them... good luck.
COMMENT 330712	2012-10-12 01:09 PM
I agree with the suggestion of Fell, Marking and Montgomery.
COMMENT 330725P	2012-10-12 01:36 PM
I'm passing on offering an actual recommendation as I have mixed feelings regarding the attorney who represented me. I will repeat something I noted when this topic came up previously: Be aware that most of the divorce specialization attorneys in town know, and sometimes socialize with one another. Of course, they need to work with each other to some degree, but there's an element of "collusion" that I only learned about and understood fully after the fact that I found troubling. My divorce wasn't all that acrimonious, but some of the "off the record" negotiations put me at a decided disadvantage in the settlement. Gender definitely (and obviously) plays a role. I'm a man, chose a female attorney, but if I had to do it over again, likely would not have. Not meant to be sexist, just an observation of my own experiences.
COMMENT 330729	2012-10-12 01:45 PM
Paul Roberts at Hollister & Brace
CHERIDIANE	2012-10-12 01:58 PM
Chip can get it done. He is in the Granada Building downtown, parking behind Charles M. Oxton, Esq. Attorney and Counselor at Law 1216 State Street, Sixth Floor Santa Barbara, CA 93101 ph: (805) 963-2011
COMMENT 330745	2012-10-12 02:24 PM
Paul Roberts, Hollister & Brace - 963-6711
COMMENT 330749P	2012-10-12 02:36 PM
My experience with Oxton was pretty poor. In my opinion, he sold my children down the river and caused irreversable harm. Hopefully, he has changed his ways. In my opinion, anyone that hires Kerker must be looking for a way to throw tons of cash down a rathole. Just a big money waster with little result. Calls herself an appelate attorney but look at the dismal sucess rate. Certain cases just shouldn't be persued for the sake of the clients. If you can, stay away from the divorce industry and mediate a settlement. You (and your children) will come out the other end much healthier and happier.
D8VANILLA	2012-10-12 02:40 PM
Just be kind. She is the mother of your beautiful children.
COMMENT 330757	2012-10-12 03:00 PM
Please let this be a lesson to everyone. Just don't get married. What is the point?
COMMENT 330766	2012-10-12 03:23 PM
Do you have kids? If so, there is no "man's point of view" unless your wife is a meth head, and then it's only 50/50
COMMENT 330770	2012-10-12 03:28 PM
Just to clarify other posts here, it is only "50/50" in regard to any property or assets acquired DURING marriage. A lot of disputes come up regarding what is acquired "during" marriage. For instance, a business that was started by one spouse pre-marriage and both spouse worked on it during marriage. Or a down payment on a house made pre-marriage, etc....
COMMENT 330775P	2012-10-12 03:43 PM
interview a few. Make sure what you want is what they are willing to fight for. Kids need mother and father...even if they don't live together.
COMMENT 330777	2012-10-12 03:49 PM
Just remember the best thing about alimony is it's worth it.
COMMENT 330782	2012-10-12 04:05 PM
chip oxton tough as a pit bull He's not going to hold your hand but he is going to fight for you if you need hand holding go see a marriage counselor
COMMENT 330795	2012-10-12 04:29 PM
look anyone up on avvo.
COMMENT 330796	2012-10-12 04:32 PM
Law firm of Duey, Cheetum & Howe.
COMMENT 330810	2012-10-12 05:12 PM
expect the un-expected.
COMMENT 330812	2012-10-12 05:15 PM
Tracey Rangel Cruz. She did an awesome job for me and my kids. Regarding the tough and pitbull...I guess that all comes down to how the other side wants to play it. The divorce formula is really pretty cut and dry I think in this state. It is just when you or the other side lets the emotion/honesty go and you are both paying a combined $16.67 a minute! for your lawyers, that is when it will truly go south. This may sound funny but hopefully you both will pick attorneys that get along if mediation doesn't work. Tracey can do either.
COMMENT 330819	2012-10-12 05:25 PM
I second the mediator idea. You'll save yourself tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars and get it done quicker.
COMMENT 330835	2012-10-12 05:58 PM
Paul Capritto is amazing...I had a difficult divorce, and he was helpful and trustworthy. I always recommend him when asked.
COMMENT 330869P	2012-10-12 07:59 PM
I second the recommendation of Paul Capritto. He's the best in SB.
COMMENT 330882P	2012-10-12 08:41 PM
I second, third the suggestion of mediation. I was trained as a lawyer, chose not to practice and instead studied mediation, including divorce mediation. Mediation is much quicker (therefore cheaper) and much much easier on the psyches of both parties. I don't have a recommendation for a mediator here, but look for one that has had experience in divorces. Sometimes, depending on how complicated the situation is, each party can have a lawyer on the side, but even so it is a non-adversarial process. Good luck!
COMMENT 330899	2012-10-13 06:36 AM
Kirker practices with Jacqueline Misho. Those experiencing the practice of both attorneys often cite the experiences of John Cleese, who featured Misho as an Orc during his Alimony Comedy Tour, necessitated by the outcome of his divorce action in the court of Thomas Anderle. google the tour - it was hysterically funny.
COMMENT 330903	2012-10-13 07:17 AM
Joanne Habibi
COMMENT 330920	2012-10-13 08:17 AM
As much as I hate to be the voice of reason, different folks will get along better with different attorneys. I would recommend Bruce Glesby at Griffith and Thornburg 805 965-5131 He has represented many of my friends. He is skillful and as tough as nails but well liked by all, especially judges, due to his encyclopedic knowledge of the law.
ARCHIE	2012-10-13 09:42 AM
Whatever you choose to do, scrutinize your monthly bills. Keep your own record of date, time entering & exiting office, and if there is more than 1 lawyer who is in on the meeting. And be cognizant to not feed your anger. It costs.
COMMENT 330956	2012-10-13 12:04 PM
PLEASE check out collaborative law on Google. No court dispute resolution. A better way to divorce!
COMMENT 330978	2012-10-13 12:59 PM
I hope that your divorce goes as smoothly as this thread. Minimal snark. A nice change. JoAnn Habibi is fair and decent. I hope that's what both parties are looking for.
COMMENT 331037P	2012-10-13 04:35 PM
Attorney Diana Jackson is excellent - much prefers mediation to snarky litigation.
COMMENT 331221	2012-10-14 12:48 PM
Not to be snarky but unfortunately there are numerous ways to "churn up" and "run up" huge padded bills for nothing important (maybe not even any work at all). Divorce can an often is just a way for "divorce lawyers" to milk the spouses (their clients) of thousands of dollars in "fees" and "costs" most of which are totally uncecessary. In other words using emmotional issues for profit.
COMMENT 388680	2013-03-23 10:24 AM
Disagree immensely with Capritto. Seems like a nice guy but doesn't like to write or file the required legal docs unless he's getting paid a ton of money. Has some focus issues as well. Sold me and me and my children down the river and to the "devil" (actually a few of them - lawyer, "therapist" - and I use the word very loosely. The therapist conducts 3111's so, in other words an unethical, ex parte communicating hired gun. Stay far away from her. She's downtown.